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Almost identical on points and goals scored, but let’s not forget that Lambert took over a team which had just lost three on the bounce without scoring and which had capitulated so terribly at Tottenham and at home to West Ham during its previous eight league games.

Let’s not forget the humbling at Coventry, either, in Hughes’ last match in charge.

Paul Lambert implores the troops (Image: Getty)

Those were the depths to which Stoke had sunk when Lambert received his hospital pass in January, too late to bring in his own signings, effectively consigning him to crisis management.

What Lambert has achieved is to root out the problem players helping to bring the team down and restore a resilience, a genuine spirit, which perhaps reached its zenith at Anfield nine days ago.

That resilience and spirit is reflected in the number of goals conceded pre-Lambert (31) and with Lambert (17).

At no time during his reign could the team be accused of the kind of insipid, embarrassing capitulation we were witnessing with increasing regularlity under his predecessor.

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Even the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal was triggered by a controversial penalty (to put it mildly) for 1-0 as late as the 75th minute.

Where Lambert has unequivocally failed is to sharpen Stoke’s woefully blunt cutting edge in the final third.

But that failure is not entirely his, surely, after having his hands tied by Jese’s disgraceful absence, Saido Berahino’s inexcusable lack of professionalism and Mame Diouf’s honest failings in front of goal.

Mame Diouf sits dejected after another hard-luck story

The paucity of Stoke’s attacking reserves was highlighted all too starkly against Crystal Palace on Saturday when he summoned Tyrese Campbell from the bench and basically asked a raw 18 year-old to save Stoke City Football Club from relegation.

Lambert deserves a second crack, surely, because he will hopefully kick off next season with at least half-a-dozen of his own players ready for frontline action, armed with the ability the current squad lacks and fortifying the character he has rediscovered during his four months at the bet365.

His proactive approach to signings will also minimise the failings of the club’s current process with a sit-at-home manager like Hughes around.